Gastroscope



2 Sheets-Sheet l m m5 Q L. L. HARDT ETAL GAs'TRosooPE Filed Feb. 9, 1944 N'lay A15, 1945.

May l5, 1945.

l. I HARDT 5T AL GASTROSCOPE Filed Feb. 9; 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y NN .ll www@ vm,

Patented May l5, 1945 y 2,376,249 i i N T-f Om-Eff ,GAsTRosCoP-Ev ma Ludwig streit.en-mier,` Chicago, `111.=

. Application February 9, 1944,' serial 10.521,625

s claims. (ci. 12s-fs) "i This invention relates to improvements in gastroscopes or like Iinstruments forthe# examina'- tion of body cavities, 'and .in particular tolan improved construction which iscapable of` such adjustment that the examiner is enabled to get views of a `body cavityl at different Sangles.

The particular :type oft-'instrument herein shown and described'k isa gastrosco'pe whichis equipped with an opticalsystem comprising a comparatively large number of alignedoptical elements .which transmit the image in a straight line. to the eye piece.. The end of the gastroscope is provided with an opening in theA side of a .tubular housing, and a mirror is f disposed adjacent said openingin order tcreflect theline envision from the optical system to a point'outside of the tube. f .1..

An object of this .invention istoprovide .an improved means for mounting the aforementioned mirror in such :amanner that vits 'angular position may vjbeadjusted so as. to obtain retrograde, prograde and intermediate views..

The gastroscope described' herein -comprises two parts, aA sheath,- and. av removable scope which term as usedherein refers tothe member which embodies lthe optical system; I Another objectr ofthis invention .is Yto provide means lfor Figs. 6 andl 7' are elevations yof certain details;

vandl f Figs. 8 and 9 are 'sectionstakerfalong lines '8-8and9-g-9 of Figs. 2 and 3, respectively..

.With -reference now to Figi, the gastroscope comprises a sheath designated generally bythe reference numera1 Ifand a scope' II whichjts within ythe sheath, 'only the upper end of the scope being visible in Fig. 1. Variousv features ofy the fsheath as they .appearinFig 1i, reading from left to right, are a lexibletip I2, preferably made of rubber, lamps I3 and I4, av window I5, a 'flexible section I6, and electrical plug I..'I,.and

anairinletl8... H v 'f' The scope ,includes a series of optical elements, suchqas lenses and prisms I9, as lshown in Figs. 2 and3,which are mounted inra double tube 20. A1 flanged sleeve 2I is ,carried` at the.l1Pper end ofzthe doubletube 2D, andfaneye piece :221s screw-threaded onto the flanged sleevek 2l. .The eye piece,.22 includes a window,23i which serves to keep .dustv out. of the'voptical system I9. The scope rits within thesheatl'i,v and is adjustable both longitudinally androtationally. ,.A. mirror 525 24is disposed'. behind. the window. I5 so thatobremovably associating the scope with theaforesaid adjustable mirror mounting so "that `the angular position'cf themirror'zmay be regulated by sliding the scope to and fro within the sheath. A further object is to provide improved means for adjustably mounting' a mirror opposite the end of a .removable scope in suoliy a' manner that the mirror remains 'substantially centered with respect to the optical aXi's of theiscope even though it is caused to assume different angular positions. 'i

Other objects, features and' advanta'ges'of this invention will become apparent as the Idescriptionproceeds. With reference Vnow to the drawingswhich form a partici. this application, and in which like reference numerals designate like pms'- ,i i.

`Fig. l is a plan view of a preferre'dembodimentof this invention;` i Y. Fig. 2. is an enlarged sectional view oi'thelower endof the gastroscope shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view 1 ofthe 'upper end thereof; l Y Fig. 4 is an elevation,"part1y in section, of

gfFig. 5 is a section. similar to Fig. l2 but shows ing theparts in a changed position; i y

jects; without the 1 gastroscope can., be reflected into-,theline of visionof the scope and maybe seen bythe examiner.

, Themajor portion of the length ofthe scope comprises an outer tube. 25,,an inner tube 26, the latterjbeing electrically disposed withrespeot tof the vformer so as toprovidev a .passage foran insulated wire 2.1. The outer tube .25 terminates at' its `lower end somewhat shortof theinner tube 26,- and` the/latter terminatesin an enlarged threaded portion .28 to whichfa sleeve. 2Q is threaded.. Thensleeve. 29 may be provided Withl a groove for the reception of the wire 21.

A Thevexible section. I6 comprises a helixl 30 which is covered by -two v'sections of iiexible tubing, such aslrubber, designated byreference numerals 33 and 34.. The upper end ofthe helix .30 is seated in the sleeve .29,.and the .lower'end Ain ac sleeve 3l', to which lower sleeveis secured afncomp'aratiively short-tubular member 32 in which the window is set, and within which the mirror 24 is disposed.. The exible tubing 34 overlies the tubing .33 and extends beyond .the

' sleeves 29f and 3l, and is secured at itsends to vI5() the inner tube .26 andthe tubular section 32 respectivelyby whipping 35.. By means of this construction` the flexible section presentsia smooth and non-irritating surface, and is sealed-in airtight relationship.

.55 ...The wire21i i s lhelically disposed betweenthe tion 32 is closed by a plug 31, which plug is pro-` vided with a mortised extension which forms a guide 38 for a button 39 which projects from-the lower portion of the mirror plate 40. The `upper portion of the mirror plate is supported by' wire` hanger 42, the free ends of which are pivotally mounted in a sliding member4l-I. -''heislidii'i'g' member conforms itself to the cylindrical shape of the interior of the short tubular.se`ctiol`f'1'-32l` It is provided' with' a slot-'43 'thi'oughiwhich a rivet 44 extends, the rivet being anchored ini the shortf'tubulariseetiom 32.- This oonstruetionllimits 'tlieinovement ofi the sliding. memberfhifand consequently .the angular movement of tlii'lilrro'r 24, the extreme positions ofwhich arefshown inFigsilz and respectively;

vThe inner .surface of. the ysliding memberfa-l is'piovldedv'vith an a'gul'ar rib"v 45' which coop= ofthespe II'. "Tli'slidihgmember 4I is slotted :is ii'idietediat 41 in Figa-:to provide theme; essary-` give so that-1 ther scope I I1l may :bey easily slipped into and Withdrawn from`- 'engagement with the sliding 1 member` 4 ls f 1-wi1l"befseen, therefore,` that sliding ths'pe II iliiwidly; a`ft er. it has' eng-aged the ib-Ar 45'1to`1 tl'i ilimit ofits rfiotioii,wi1l Ldanse' the mirror@ 2 4i toe-assume the retrograde position, and withdrawing ittofthot point -wherea slight resistance indicates engagenient ofI the' rivetH-witii therend of'th'slot'fu -wi-ii oausef thefminroito assortie7 therpiograde position. of ooursetneniirrorvinay be caused to4 assume various ifiterinediateposi'tions.

scope for theinner tube' fand another bushing "d'9 isorovidd lfor the outer tutela-the 'bushings being screw-threadedto each 'other fnd servingfto maintain Y'the eecsntrioity'of"thefinner and outertuoes. 'It will be noted that the vlovifei end" of the outer tube 2'5` is bent inwardly finto en; gageinent 'with the inner tube 2G tof help :mains tain this-eccentrioity at`` the iower'e'nd ofthe tubes, as indicated by' the reference numerals il. A flanged member 5t isthreaded intothe bush ing da and4 a packingA member 5| is oonii'ned? bejtween they flanged member-'andthe bushing; `A nipple 52 is inserted in tlifsy bis'liin'g48u to pxiit the introduction ofjoir into'the space between the scope Hand the sheath" iu' so 'thatlai'rinay '1 be fo'medA downwardly tothefiower'end vor the gastroscope Where itay'wescape'througli' the` threads between the plug @Tand thefshrt' tilbullai section $2' to dilate the stomach, thereby as- A gisting in theexainination thereof. Thepaok'- 'ing sifpreventsthe esc-doser' diret the upper end ofthe gastrosoope.

' A ein' Sois-screwed into the aange-of the hanged member" and engages theflanged "sleeveT 2 l` to limit the inward motion of the 'vso'ope'f'with resoest tol the sheath. Tiiisforevents any'damsge to theoairts whiohrnight redditi-from' ioroiogtne vscope inwardly' against the resistan'oe'of the' rivet 44. In practice, the length of oescfopiwlll'vdry somewhat'withrespeot to anotherA dueto "variations in the optical elements I9, and hence each scope must be individually fitted to its respective sheath, and the pin 53 ground down to the appropriate length.

The lamps I3 and I4 are mounted in a cutaway tubular section 54, which is threaded onto the plug 31, the lamps beingembedded in an insulating plastic composition 55 in such a manner that they project slightlybeyond the surface of thegastroscope.y Each lamp is provided With a cn'dctoi to groind designated by reference nu- -merals 56 and 51 respectively, and they are also connected by a lead 58 to a contact member in `'tl'ie form of a spring 59.

i Ififhe lower end of the plug 31 is recessed as indicated at Grand threaded in order to receive lthe cutaway section 54, and also to receive a Bakelitplugft.- contact screw, for cooperation Awith the contact screw 59, is embedded in the' Bakelite plug to afford electrical contact with that lamps I3andwl 4. f The lower. endrof the wire 21fisfsecuredi to` the contactscrew' 62 as it passes through a=bore"631in.the plug' 31 into/the intefior ofthe short tubular section 32A andthe slid- 'ing .membres-4I,v from which itis led outwardly through. theperfotation1.36i `as hereinbefore rde- -scribed :The slidingA member His also provided withta 'slot 64for the wire 21.

Alconical.t projection on they bushing 49 'affords means on which.' the electrical plug I1 'may'4 be removably mounted'.` From-thelflexible section I6' tl'ie wire 21. passes through the space between the' outervan'd inner tubes-25 vand 26, and-thenup through the conical projection 65 to fa' suitable: contactingmeans, not shown, for coop eration'with 'theplug I1. The'v other side of the lamp circuit is grounded on thegastroscope proper? as lindicatedv above.

The' sleeves -2 9' and? 3 I 'are i pro-vided` with bushings-Letland' lfrespeotivelygoy 'meansiof winch menfibert8 to which Vit is-'secure'd by a screw 69,

asfshown' in` FignZ.

`vThe operation `of the various parts has been vdescribed-iin detail. When anv examination is to beffniade, the scope is rst removed from the 'sheath and" the sheath 'I0' is then yinserted Yinto the patents throat until the. window I5 is receivedwithin'the;stomach. The flexible tip I-2 assists in determining this position, and due to its iiexibilityl avoids undue irritation of the stomach. The flexible section I6 assists in the insertion ofthe sheath. ThenV the scope II is inserted-inthe sheatlnand this serves to straighten out the ilexiblesection I6. As the scope is positioned into its final position, the rib 45 will engage `the lower end ofthe scope so that there is operative connection between the 'scope and the mirror. Thelplug I1 may then be'attached, thereby lighting the lamps"|3 and I4. If it is desired to'dilate the stomach, airmay be introduced'through the nipple 52, the flanged member 50 being first tightened up.

`It"will"be 'seenthat by means of the construction herein described and shown, Views may be taken at 'various angles' ranging from about 20 to 70 from thee-airis of the scopa-and thatthis is done without causing any prism or`other reflecting element to be projected from the'confines of the gastroscope into the stomach. All of the operating mechanism is wholly confined Within the sheath and there is no possibility of the stomach fluids entering into vthe scope and damaging the mechanism or clouding the optical elements.

Although only one preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown herein, it will be understood that various modifications and .changes may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention. The drawings and the foregoing description are illustrative only and the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims; Y

We claim:

1. vA gastroscope comprising a sheath having a window at the lowerl portion thereof, and a mirror 'disposed within said sheath and adjacent said window, said mirror being' mounted for angular adjustment, and a removable scope slidably dis-` posed within said sheath and optically aligned with said mirror, and means connecting Said mirror and said scope to regulate the angle ofvision through said window. 2. A gastroscope comprising a sheath and a removable scope, a mirror within said sheath at the lower end thereof opposite the endof said.

scope, a guide in whichone end of said mirror may be slidably mounted, a .sleeve slidably mounted within said sheath and carrying pivotally mounted means for supporting the other end of said mirror, saidv sleeve being adapted to receive the end of said scope, and means for providing interlocking engagement `between said sleeve and said scope so that sliding movement of saidscope will be transmitted to said sleeve for angular adjustment of said mirror.

3. In al gastroscope, a mirror located at the lower end thereof and wholly'within the conf nes thereof, and means for supporting said mirror at its two ends, one of said supporting means constituting a guide to permit sliding movement of said mirror in one direction, and the other of said supporting means being shiftable in another direction so that the angular disposition of the mirror withinsaid gastroscope may be adjusted.

4. A gastroscope comprising a tubular member, a transparent wall section disposed in said tubular member at the lower'end thereof, a mirror mounted within said tubular member opposite said transparent wall section, a channel disposed within said tubular member adjacent said mirror, means near'one edge of said mirror loosely engaging said channel so as to permit angular movement of said mirror with respect to said channel, a sliding member disposed within said tubular member, and a link connected between said sliding member and the opposite edge of said mirror so that operation of said sliding member will cause angular adjustment of said mirror and will maintain the same in substantially centered relationship withyrespect to said tubular member in `which the mirror is mounted.

5. A gastroscope comprising a sheath, a removable scope slidably mounted Within said sheath,

1 in interlocking engagement, and means to limit the inwardly sliding movement of said scope, said means being eiective to permit the forcing of said groove over saidj rib when said sleeve is at the lower limit of its motion, and the engagement between said rib and said groove being such as to indicate the extreme upper limit of the motion of said sleeve-by an increased resistance to continued upward sliding movementof said scope,

but said engagement not being such as to prevent the disengagement of said scope from said sleeve.

LEOv L. I-IARDT. LUDWIG STREIEENEDER. 

